THE NINTH GATE

US/France, 1999, 133 minutes, Colour.
Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford, Jack Taylor, James Russo.
Directed by Roman Polanski.

The Ninth Gate is based on a rather exotic novel by Arturo Perez Reverte. It concerns Satanic worship, documents from past centuries, spells and incantations, rituals for the summoning of the devil.

The film has been directed by Roman Polanski, a director who has worked on a variety of genres for over 50 years. One of the earliest films in his career was the classic, Rosemary’s Baby, 1968.

Johnny Depp portrays an agent who is hired by a New York academic with a great interest in the occult, Frank Langella. His journey takes into both Spain and France, seeking out the authenticity of an alleged satanic book, finding that owners are killed, experiencing the protection of a strange woman who seems to be a guardian angel, played by Polanski’s wife, Emmanuelle Seigner.

This is one of the better films portraying searches for satanic power, with a strong cast including Lena Olin and Barbara Jefford it as one of the owners and quite a climax illustrating the self-deception of Satanic worshippers – but ending with the obsession for power of the man who sought out the book..

1. The appeal of the occult, of Satanism? Evil? Power? The book and the power of the Ninth Gate, the credit sequences and the passing through the previous the gates?

2. Roman Polanski and his career, memories of Rosemary’s Baby and other films?

3. The international settings, New York City, Spain and the countryside, France, Paris, the French countryside? The blend of the ordinary and the exotic? Shops, libraries, hotels, the river Seine? The musical score and atmosphere?

4. The credibility of the plot, of the occult, the diabolical books from the past, of Lucifer writing books, of sects, executions of dissenters, followers and cults, motivations?

5. Dean Corso and his story, his perspective on the books and Satanism? The opening, advising the couple about selling their library, the Don Quixote books and his smooth swindling of the couple? Other advice and consultation? His going back to the shop? With Bernie and the discussions? Leaving Balkan’s book with Bernie for safety, coming back and finding him dead, hanging like the illustrations in the book?

6. Balkan, New York academic, his vast library, his interest in the book and the Ninth Gate, his confidence, arrogance? Consulting Corso? His interest in the other copies, wanting to check authenticity, his motives?

7. The suicide sequence, the owner of the book? His widow, Corso meeting her, a French background, glamorous and allure? Her husband and his death, people accusing her of marrying for the money, but her wanting the book? The clash with Corso? Her reputation, the Château, the books? Her arriving in Paris, the hotel, her henchmen and his attempt on Corso’s life? The car pursuit and their going to the Château?

8. Corso and his commission, payments and interest in money? Going to Spain, the encounter with the twins and their giving information? Going to see Fargas, the discussions, the copy, examining it, Balkan and his telephone calls, the deaths?

9. Corso and his lack of faith, business priorities, serious, the search, looking at the illustrations, the comparisons, the different details, the Lucifer signature?

10. The young woman, anonymous, her mysterious presence, watching Corso, within the context of society, her clothes, mystery appearances? Helping him? The discussions, his curiosity? In Spain, preserving him? In Paris, saving him from the attack at the Seine? Getting the car, driving? The discussions in Corso’s hotel room? Going to the Château, the sexual encounter and its effect on Corso, seduced by the devil? Her be enigmatic, her relationship with Balkan, with the devil? Offering Corso the remaining pages, and her appearance in one of the illustrations?

11. The visit to the Baroness, her manner, her study, writings, haughty, dismissing Corso, his return, the photocopies, arousing her interest, the comparisons of the illustrations, his explanations? His continuing to study, his being hit, discovering the Baroness strangled? The phone call from Balkan?

12. The hotel room, hiding the book, it’s being taken? The phone call from Balkan?

13. Corso and his walk, at the river Seine, the attack, the fight, the girl saving him?

14. Getting the car, chasing the widow, the village, information, arriving at the Château? The cultists arriving, their black robes, their assembling? Corso, confronting the widow, her henchmen confining him, trapping him on the stairs, his death? The robes, Corso infiltrating the ritual? The reading from the book, the power, the cultists?

15. Balkan his ordinary suit, intruding, his mocking of the people present, the confrontation with the widow, killing her? Taking the book? Corso watching? Finding Balkan, Balkan’s arrogance, explaining the ritual, Corso falling through the floor, the circle of fire, setting himself alight, the irony of his death, Corso
shooting him to put him out of his misery?

16. Corso, the promise of the other pages, his being tempted, seduced by the girl, going to the venue, the men who were not twins, the cupboard falling over, the pages? His taking them – and driving away into the same fate?

17. An elegant film about the occult?